My wife just went on Amazon and found one.
Verilux HappyLight VT10 Compact Personal, Portable Bright White Light 10,000 Lux Therapy Lamp with 20 sq. in. Lens Size https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K08ZDBI/ref=cm_sw_r_u_apa_fabc_EZO0Fb1T8T78S
Plenty of different ones between $30 and $50.
Hate to advertise amazon but here.
Verilux HappyLight VT10 Compact Personal, Portable Bright White Light 10,000 Lux Therapy Lamp with 20 sq. in. Lens Size https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K08ZDBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_UxdTFbCQ045CS?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I've started using mine again; I really think it's helping. I bought the cheapest $35 version...right now, Amazon even has a $27 "open box" option at that link. I got inspired because I was reading The Vitamin D Solution, and in the middle of talking about how Vitamin D can help SAD, the author takes a detour into how effective light therapy is for SAD and even regular depression and bipolar.
If you want more light because of your mood, they have special light bulbs now that treat for Seasonal Affective Disorder. It's supposed to simulate the natural colors of the sun so that you feel like it's a bright sunny day and improves your mood.
eg: https://www.amazon.co.jp/Verilux-HappyLight-Personal-Portable-Spectrum/dp/B00K08ZDBI
>the HappyLight Liberty energy lamp provides safe, comfortable natural spectrum light therapy in a compact solution.;5,000 Lux moderate UV filtered output for extended daily use in your home, desk or dorm to boost mood, alertness or combat fatigue.
I also have seasonal depression and here’s what helps me: definitely start taking Vitamin D supplements now and start using a light box (something like this). As another person mentioned, exercise helps immensely and I would highly recommend seeing a therapist.
Get a sun lamp. It saved my life. Sit in front of it for ten-twenty minutes. It does WONDERS. Here’s a link to a cheap one on Amazon.
Verilux HappyLight VT10 Compact Personal, Portable Bright White Light 10,000 Lux Therapy Lamp with 20 sq. in. Lens Size https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K08ZDBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_6AHA0WR29GDGVXJVZ2VD?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Get some counseling too, most universities have free clinics. Everyone has bad days bro.
Don’t beat yourself up. And get your sunlight and wave lengths. It will help a lot.
Hi! I used to live in the Seattle area and finding an in-person therapist was hell for me. I don’t have anyone in particular to recommend since I could not find anyone in-person in the three years I lived up there but I’ve found telehealth to be a life saver for me! Psychology.com is helpful to find mental health services for your particular needs. I hope someone can give you a better recommendation.
Good luck with the move! Be sure to get a happy light or something similar to help with the adjustment to lack of sunlight!
I use one of these things:
https://www.amazon.com/Verilux-HappyLight-Compact-Personal-Portable/dp/B00K08ZDBI
which I have lying around. It has worked for flats before. All I really changed with this image versus all my previous is the lens... I'm confused on how it made such a difference. I'll shoot again tonight and try to pay extra close attention to everything. Maybe I'm forgetting a mistake I made.
Have you tried an SAD lamp? I have one and it helps. They are used specifically for this purpose, they provide the light spectrum missing at this time of year.
Here’s an link to one from Amazon: Verilux HappyLight Compact Personal, Portable Light Therapy Energy Lamp https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K08ZDBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_tW0XBbWGWA8MY
I bought mine at Bed Bath & Beyond, but I had to check which local store had them since only 1 of 5 stores in my area carries them (you can use a 20% off coupon btw, which took my price down to $32 from $40). You can also Amazon Prime it for the full price of $40. This is the model I have.
This one! $40, and it's nice and small compared to the other models.
I've been using a SAD lamp for about 7 years at the advice of a therapist. It's definitely BRIGHT. The important thing is that you have to be somewhat facing the light (you can't have it beaming on your back, for example). I usually set it on the side of the my desk so I see it in my peripheral vision, but you should only have it on from 10-15 mins at a time (if you can handle that much).
As for effectiveness, I'd say it works overall. I find I have more energy and it helps me wake up in the morning/afternoon slumps, for sure. As for benefits to mood, it's hit or miss. I've always been on medication and gone to therapy while using SAD lights, so hard to say whether mood improvements are attributed to those, or the light. But I like the small boost I have in energy at least, so I'd say it works.
I bought this one on amazon and keep it on my wfh desk. It’s great to turn on with my morning coffee and I think it helps, although definitely still struggling with pandemic etc. It’s been very tough to workout at home
Verilux HappyLight VT10 Compact Personal, Portable Bright White Light 10,000 Lux Therapy Lamp with 20 sq. in. Lens Size https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K08ZDBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_E6zHFbMZJSNZN
I have the hardest time getting up too... this happy light changed my routine— I turn it on at 6.30am and I’m more willing to leave my bed at 7am than without the light, plus it helps with my seasonal depression :)
Oh shoot I would also add a happy light can be very helpful in this situation. We have this exact one and I have it by my pc and turn it on if I get a little down or too sleepy. It simulates light and is suppose to help you produce Vitamin D.
You can always get a lamp like this if you don't want to go to a tanning bed. My aunt who lives in Seattle swears by these things.
Edit: nvm, just noticed you mentioned it in another comment. Carry on :)
I had in 7 in high school from soccer, so can confirm that they are a bitch lol.
For some advice: Consider getting on something like adderall/vyvanse for the focus issues (don't abuse it, just take the recommended dosage). Also for the depression, be wary of going on any medication. I went on cymbalta for a long while and it completely changed me as a person. When I started noticing how boring I became I decided to get off it... but the withdrawals were fucking horrible. Legit took me months to get back to my normal self. Some things that have worked: therapy (a good therapist goes a long way), sunlight or a light box in the winter times, a good social circle around you, working out, and limit your drug/alcohol use. You'll likely still have your moments where life is depressing as hell, but you just have to know you'll eventually be fine again.
I'd also recommend researching more about concussions and trying to understand everything you can about them... as it can help you cope when something pops up. Concussions can cause you to become a sex addict, more likely to abuse drugs, have anxiety, etc. there's just a lot that can happen when your brain is damaged and it can be nice to know what some of those things are so you can better address them.
Last thing: consider a good neurologist if you still get headaches. I used to get hella migraines (and still get them occasionally), but there are some great drugs out there that can help and the science gets better every day. It took me awhile to find something that worked for me, but eventually I found something that made them manageable. Either way I hope everything works out for you/anyone else who may read this who is struggling with some of these issues.
I moved to Vancouver a few years back and I had to go through that cycle myself... So here is an overview of the Lights that I’ve tried and what I can recommend (prices in Cad):
Cheap Solution: $50 SAD Light from Amazon I started with this one and it did an okay job. The downside is that the LUX is way too low (5000) and the blue spectrum can be harmful. Studies show that negative impact, just Google it. For me, it had to be on all the time to feel okay, while my eyes hurt because of the aggressive color. It was okay at the beginning, but I couldn’t stand it after a while and wouldn’t recommend it.
Pricy Solution: NorthernLights SAD Light: $260 Canadian company. Ugly as f*ck. But it works so well. I got this one at an amazing deal for $30 on Craigslist. This is not common. On Craigslist it goes for around $100-$200. In short: it is amazing! Bright as the sun and I only have to have it turned on for an hour or two per day to have a positive impact all day long. Definitely try to find one of those, if you can.
Wake-Up Light Philips: Sometimes deals below $100 (we got it for $170 and it was worth it)
Great light alarm to start the day. Pricey, but it helps to get out of bed in the dark mornings and the sunset simulation is awesome if you go to bed. There are cheaper options, but I recommend this one. It has the full light spectrum, which is important to keep the body in its natural rhythm and you will feel it much easier to get up.
In addition, there are interesting setups with smart light bulbs (we use LIFX smart bulbs over the Phillips Hue due to its broader light spectrum) and fully equipped our Apartment with these bulbs. I hesitated to spend so much money on lights, but it was well worth it for me. Some combine the wake-up-light approach with a smart bulb timer: Instead of having an extra wake-up light, you can set your smart bulbs on a schedule, so that you get that sunrise simulation from your bulbs. I don't like it as much as the wake-up light, but it surely cuts the costs and does the trick.
In a nutshell: if I only had to pick one item, it would be the NorthernLights SAD Light. It had the most profound impact on my well being, while the other lights added incremental value.
edit: fixed the Links disclosure: no affiliate links, not invested in any of the aforementioned companies/products
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There's a special lamp on Amazon that's supposed to help with SAD, here's a link.
Ah, thank you for being nice about it! I don't want to police language or anything, either, because I think casual usage is important, and communication is supposed to be fun, but I went for it anyway because I'm sensitive, hahah.
There is also a point I entirely failed to make in my own scatterbrainedness, and I really meant to get there, but, like, hmm. It's hard to see behind your own context, right? There are people who LOVE winter and get super jazzed about it and have more energy during the darker times of year. That's just not me, or, apparently, you. It's very easy to assume that our normal is everybody's normal, so surely everybody has the winter blues a little, yeah? Except that this isn't actually the case, lolol. For years I assumed that everybody suffered similarly and just didn't mention it.
So the part of this that I failed to convey is that I think you might be making a little light of this in your own context, and it could be a bigger deal that it seems. You're being very nice to me about it, and your phrasing in the original post is very gentle, so, like, idk, I guess I am also trying to say that while I am a dramatic example, not all examples are dramatic, and you can extend some of that meandering compassion to youself (and also buy a lightbox, just in case), because you sound, to me, a little more than just routine ho hum winter tired.
My current budget pick for a light box that I reccomend to the curious is this one: https://smile.amazon.com/Verilux-HappyLight-Compact-Personal-Portable/dp/B00K08ZDBI/
because it's small and $30.
I have a fancy one for no other reason than hey, if I'm not the target demographic, who is? and because it's pretty https://smile.amazon.com/Sunrise-Sensations-BrightBox-Spectrum-Adjustable/dp/B08HRCD9G7
I highly recommend a "sunlight lamp." This one or something similar https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K08ZDBI/. They make a seriously BIG difference for winter blues, in my experience. You basically can sit with them shining in your face while you do other things, and it's sort of like sitting in the sun. I have one that I leave on all day while I work from home.
Verilux VT10WW1 HappyLight Liberty Compact Light Therapy Lamp https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00K08ZDBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_nDKsFb7H1M3JM
I have SAD and I got this from Amazon a few years ago and it helps!
You're welcome! This is the one I got in case you're curious: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K08ZDBI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1.
It's not stupid! It's a small thing that I have on my desk, I turn it on while I'm working in the morning. I have this one but there are lots out there. There are also lamps that you can program like an alarm, to turn on slowly on a timer, which makes it easier to wake up.
No, I use it in the morning before work for about 30 minutes. https://www.amazon.com/Verilux-HappyLight-Compact-Personal-Portable/dp/B00K08ZDBI/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_bs_lp_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=HERDPG90Q3Q6F7JXQR32&th=1
For what it's worth, I use this at work https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K08ZDBI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 after I use this in the morning while I get ready https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01553VBD6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I also have a dawn simulator next to my bed.
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This is the one I have. I originally bought one for my boyfriend who spends all day indoors so I needed a small, desk sized one. He liked it so much I bought myself one haha
It is not the best situation, but if you get them a sun-lamp (sold as "SAD lights" on amazon) or "full spectrum light bulbs", that will help a LOT. If you get the sun lamp, be sure to protect the cord so they can't chew it. Also, you can get multi-vitamins from oxbow and those will help too.
You can also get a portable play pen to set up outside for a few hours every day so they can have sunlight. Make sure to get one with a top AND bottom so that they don't escape or get attacked by animals.
Get a "Happy Light". I bought my daughter this one. She says it helps with her SAD.
Yeah! The lamp has pretty good reviews. I'm looking forward to hearing how it works out.